Park Rapids defeats Detroit Lakes in first track and field meet at Mollberg Field

Park Rapids Area picked up both victories in a track and field dual with Detroit Lakes at Mollberg Field Thursday, April 22. The Panther girls defeated the Lakers 77-73; the boys won 99-56.

The DL girls got off to a strong start thanks to the sprint group.

Abby Larson (13.46) led a trio of Lakers to the finish in the 100m dash racing to the line with runner-up Sasha Sekundiak (13.49). Ella Paulson (13.93) was the third Laker to cross.

Sekundiak and Larson traded spots in the 200, Sekundiak winning in 27.19, Larson second in 27.60. Jerzie Horner finished third (28.29) and Anne Paulson fifth (28.79) putting four Lakers in the top five.

DL’s 4x100 team of Amy Do, Morgan Hausten, Anne Paulson and Larson placed first in 54.35.

Helena Daggett was the 400 runner-up (1:07.46).

Julia Steffl raced at the front of the pack with Park Rapids’ Julia Harmon in the 1,600m. Harmon kicked late to win in 6:06.80. Steffl was three seconds back at the line. Isla Pender, Karli Skarie and Kira Wolf placed fourth through sixth for the Lakers.

Park Rapids recorded first place finishes in the 400, 800, 1,600, both hurdles races and three of four relays. The Panthers swept the top three 800 times.

Jerzie Horner (19.53), Rylee Johnson (20.14), Jordan Ehnert (20.33) and Elle Bettcher (20.50) placed second through fifth in the 100m hurdles, behind the Panthers’ Quinn Hunter (19.32).

Anne Paulson (53.15) and Johnson (56.08) ran two-three to Park Rapids’ Kendra Scholz (53.08) in the 300 hurdles.

DL had four wins in the field, two coming from Jacee Hauser in throws.

Hauser won the shot put (32.03.75) and the discus (97-02). Teammate Kylee Price was second in the discus (96-00) and Elle Bettcher placed second in shot (28-00).

Jordyn Johnson cleared 4-04 to win the high jump. Austria Lachowitzer was third (4-00).

Anne Paulson continued an impressive day by winning the triple jump clearing 31-05.50. Daggett was third (30-04.50), Sekundiak fourth (30-01.50).

The Laker boys had three wins on the track and a pair of field victories.

Sprints were also a strong suit to start.

Mason Carrier and Jacob Kalina dueled in the 100m dash, Carrier winning 11.98 to Kalina’s 12.04. Hunter Zempel was fourth (12.31).

Ethan Carrier won the 200 in 24.46, ahead of a DL sweep. Christian Solberg was second (24.87), followed by Zempel (24.92) and Cameron Marxen (25.64).

The 4x100 team of Devon Berg, Jamus Walz, Caeden Yliniemi and Mason Carrier were victorious by five-hundredths of a second over Park Rapids (46.95), winning in 46.90.

Three Lakers placed in the top four long jumps. Yliniemi won the event with a leap of 19-05.75. Solberg was second (18-03.50); Zempel placed fourth (17-11.75).

Clay Perkins, Alexander Fletcher and Jacob Kalina all cleared 5-06 to finish in order one through three in the high jump. Evan Thomas (5-04) held sole possession of fourth place.

Thomas was the triple jump runner-up (36-10.50), behind Park Rapids’ Sam Reish (36-10.75) in a tight measurement.

Jacob Ehnert had a second place shot put of 38-07.75. PR’s Tristan Hill was the winner (43-08.75).

Park Rapids and Detroit Lakes have competed twice already. The Panthers were victorious at home April 15 in far colder temperatures than Thursday.

Fergus Falls comes to Mollberg Field next Tuesday, April 27 for a 4 p.m. start.

Read more stories by Robert Williams here .